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Ryan Knaus

Offseason Beat

Free Agency Overview

There have been plenty of fireworks in the NBA during the first two weeks of July, including free agent signings, Summer League breakout performances and substantial rules changes. Today's column focuses primarily on the first category – free agency.

Below you'll find a team-by-team breakdown of free agency signings, a list of remaining free agents, and recent injury updates. July 1-14 covers the entirety of free agency, so for brevity’s sake I'm not discussing which team lost a particular free agent (e.g. the Jazz lost Gordon Hayward), and I'm not getting into the endless rumors that circulate this time of year. Toward the end of the column I will sum up the remaining pool of players still available, in addition to key injury updates since July 1.

Given the number of transactions and volume of news that has occurred in the past two weeks I'm sure I’ve made a few errors, large or small... if you notice any oversights, just contact me via email or a Direct Message on Twitter @Knaus_RW.

(Note: I'm listing each team in alphabetical order by city/state, and their acquisitions are in descending order based upon total salary, not annualized salary…I’m also intentionally skipping many ‘make good’ and two-way deals with players who are unlikely to have any fantasy impact)

James Harden inked a four-year contract extension worth around $228 million, the largest extension in NBA history. The massive new pact will kick in two years from now, keeping him under contract through 2022-23. I think that’s it for extensions? The Wizards offered John Wall a four-year ‘supermax’ extension worth approximately $170, but for now he seems more inclined to play out the season on his current deal.

The Celtics traded Avery Bradley and a future second-round pick to the Pistons, who in turn sent Marcus Morris to Boston. Financial necessity prompted the move by the Celtics, who needed to clear space for Gordon Hayward. They may have also been responding to the future dilemma of trying to retain AB and Isaiah Thomas next summer, on a roster that already features two max contracts.

C.J. Miles went to the Raptors in a sign-and-trade deal sending Cory Joseph to the Pacers. Miles will ink a three-year, $25.0 million deal to give Toronto a court-spreading swingman, while Joseph gives Indiana some backcourt insurance behind newly-signed Darren Collison.

DeMarre Carroll's stint in Toronto ended with a salary-dump to the Nets, who also received future first- and second-round picks for their efforts. In exchange for the picks and DeMarre, who is owed a guaranteed $30.2 million over the next two seasons, the Raptors took back (and immediately waived) Justin Hamilton.

Zach LaVine (ACL surgery) said that he's ahead of schedule and will be ready for training camp. His enthusiasm is great, but as usual we're not taking the word of the player himself (or his agent) as the final word. Chicago will certainly be cautious with LaVine's recovery, especially since explosive athleticism is such a big part of his game.

Isaiah Thomas reportedly won't require surgery on his strained right hip, saying, "Every indication is that he feels good and will be ready to go." You'd think that if he did need surgery, he'd have done it as soon as possible, so that's a good sign. Thomas is angling for a max contract next summer, and he could help his case by playing injury-free this season, or at least not aggravating his hip.

Ben Simmons (right foot surgery) is playing 5-on-5 but he skipped Summer League, and coach Brett Brown said that it would be "very ambitious" to assume he won't have limitations next year. Translate that as a minute-limit and DNPs in plenty of back-to-back sets (especially on the road, if Joel Embiid is anything to go by).

Joel Embiid (left knee surgery) didn't play in Summer League and he's also skipping the NBA Africa Game, but he's on target for training camp. Philly will undoubtedly keep a tight rein on him next season, and Brett Brown basically confirmed that a minute-limit will be in place.

Jamal Murray (sports hernia surgery) "fully expects" to be ready for training camp, and he did warm up with the Nuggets prior to multiple Summer League games.

Rudy Gay (Achilles surgery) is "ready" and has been "cleared", according to his agent. No agent in history has expressed pessimism about his client's health, so take this in context. Gay also said he plans to have the greatest recovery ever, or something to that extent.

Wolves rookie Justin Pattonhad surgery to repair a fractured metatarsal in his left foot on July 4. His return date is unknown, but the Wolves obviously aren't going to rush it.

Darrell Arthurflew to Germany for Regenokine treatment on his troublesome left knee. Denver can afford to take it easy with Arthur even if he's not 100 percent for training camp, given the profusion of big men on the roster.

I hoped that helped condense what has been a wild few weeks to begin July! Again, if you see any oversights or errors, just contact me via email or on Twitter @Knaus_RW. Have a great week!

There have been plenty of fireworks in the NBA during the first two weeks of July, including free agent signings, Summer League breakout performances and substantial rules changes. Today's column focuses primarily on the first category – free agency.

Below you'll find a team-by-team breakdown of free agency signings, a list of remaining free agents, and recent injury updates. July 1-14 covers the entirety of free agency, so for brevity’s sake I'm not discussing which team lost a particular free agent (e.g. the Jazz lost Gordon Hayward), and I'm not getting into the endless rumors that circulate this time of year. Toward the end of the column I will sum up the remaining pool of players still available, in addition to key injury updates since July 1.

Given the number of transactions and volume of news that has occurred in the past two weeks I'm sure I’ve made a few errors, large or small... if you notice any oversights, just contact me via email or a Direct Message on Twitter @Knaus_RW.

(Note: I'm listing each team in alphabetical order by city/state, and their acquisitions are in descending order based upon total salary, not annualized salary…I’m also intentionally skipping many ‘make good’ and two-way deals with players who are unlikely to have any fantasy impact)

James Harden inked a four-year contract extension worth around $228 million, the largest extension in NBA history. The massive new pact will kick in two years from now, keeping him under contract through 2022-23. I think that’s it for extensions? The Wizards offered John Wall a four-year ‘supermax’ extension worth approximately $170, but for now he seems more inclined to play out the season on his current deal.

The Celtics traded Avery Bradley and a future second-round pick to the Pistons, who in turn sent Marcus Morris to Boston. Financial necessity prompted the move by the Celtics, who needed to clear space for Gordon Hayward. They may have also been responding to the future dilemma of trying to retain AB and Isaiah Thomas next summer, on a roster that already features two max contracts.

C.J. Miles went to the Raptors in a sign-and-trade deal sending Cory Joseph to the Pacers. Miles will ink a three-year, $25.0 million deal to give Toronto a court-spreading swingman, while Joseph gives Indiana some backcourt insurance behind newly-signed Darren Collison.

DeMarre Carroll's stint in Toronto ended with a salary-dump to the Nets, who also received future first- and second-round picks for their efforts. In exchange for the picks and DeMarre, who is owed a guaranteed $30.2 million over the next two seasons, the Raptors took back (and immediately waived) Justin Hamilton.

Zach LaVine (ACL surgery) said that he's ahead of schedule and will be ready for training camp. His enthusiasm is great, but as usual we're not taking the word of the player himself (or his agent) as the final word. Chicago will certainly be cautious with LaVine's recovery, especially since explosive athleticism is such a big part of his game.

Isaiah Thomas reportedly won't require surgery on his strained right hip, saying, "Every indication is that he feels good and will be ready to go." You'd think that if he did need surgery, he'd have done it as soon as possible, so that's a good sign. Thomas is angling for a max contract next summer, and he could help his case by playing injury-free this season, or at least not aggravating his hip.

Ben Simmons (right foot surgery) is playing 5-on-5 but he skipped Summer League, and coach Brett Brown said that it would be "very ambitious" to assume he won't have limitations next year. Translate that as a minute-limit and DNPs in plenty of back-to-back sets (especially on the road, if Joel Embiid is anything to go by).

Joel Embiid (left knee surgery) didn't play in Summer League and he's also skipping the NBA Africa Game, but he's on target for training camp. Philly will undoubtedly keep a tight rein on him next season, and Brett Brown basically confirmed that a minute-limit will be in place.

Jamal Murray (sports hernia surgery) "fully expects" to be ready for training camp, and he did warm up with the Nuggets prior to multiple Summer League games.

Rudy Gay (Achilles surgery) is "ready" and has been "cleared", according to his agent. No agent in history has expressed pessimism about his client's health, so take this in context. Gay also said he plans to have the greatest recovery ever, or something to that extent.

Wolves rookie Justin Pattonhad surgery to repair a fractured metatarsal in his left foot on July 4. His return date is unknown, but the Wolves obviously aren't going to rush it.

Darrell Arthurflew to Germany for Regenokine treatment on his troublesome left knee. Denver can afford to take it easy with Arthur even if he's not 100 percent for training camp, given the profusion of big men on the roster.

I hoped that helped condense what has been a wild few weeks to begin July! Again, if you see any oversights or errors, just contact me via email or on Twitter @Knaus_RW. Have a great week!

Despite residing in Portland, Maine, Ryan Knaus remains a heartbroken Sonics fan who longs for the days of Shawn Kemp and Xavier McDaniel. He has written for Rotoworld.com since 2007. You can follow him on Twitter.Email :Ryan Knaus